Bye, Bye 2012

Billy as Santa 

In little less than a week from now we'll be saying good bye to 2012.What a year this has been. Last year around the same time we were jumping for joy about our assignment: Riyadh. We hit the ground running in 2012. From finishing up our post in DC, visiting family and friends before moving, packing, shots, paperwork and more paperwork to relocating to the other side of the world with our dog Dante. Then getting settled in Riyadh, unpacking, meeting new friends, establishing a new routine, learning to accept and adapt to new customs. Ahhhhh...let me take a breath. Yes, 2012 has truly been a wonderful year like many years before. We have a lot to be thankful for. We are blessed to have each other and our family who love us unconditionally.

As 2012 comes to a close we'll end it with a bang. Billy's 10-day vacation starts today. We've been invited to 3 separate parties which we'll attend all of them. On Christmas morning we'll begin the preparations for dinner at our house. Our guests this year are the sweet MSG's at post who are all single and away from their families. We'll have a sit down traditional Christmas meal with turkey and all the fixings, homemade spiked eggnog, and the usual pies (apple, pecan and pumpkin). There's going to be a lot of eating, drinking and socializing within these next 48 hours, but it doesn't stop here. On the 27th, Billy and I take off on an early flight to Vienna, Austria where we'll celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary (Dec. 30th) and New Year's Eve. We are so excited! To be in Europe during this time of year with the love of my life is going to be magical. We'll be able to walk every where, see a concert, check out a museum, and sit at a cafe with a glass of wine. This all gives me butterflies.

2012 you have been more than kind to us. May 2013 be just as gracious. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all our family and friends. We love you very much. Cheers!

Sultanate of Oman

We heard from many foreigners living in Saudi that the key to happiness here is to travel every 2-4 months. We took their advice and booked a 6 day trip to Oman, the neighboring country to the southeast of Saudi Arabia. It was an easy 2 hour direct flight from Riyadh to Muscat, the capitol of Oman. We arrived at night around midnight so it was very hard to get a feel for the city. The next morning I opened up our bedroom curtains and our view was this...

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Muscat, Oman

In Muscat we visited the Sultan's palace, the Grand Mosque, the very famous Muttrah Souk, and a few other places including the Opera House. One great thing was seeing my friend and her husband who were assigned to Muscat. It was truly a delight to reunite with her, and finally meet her other half. After a couple days in Muscat, we rented a 4x4 and ventured northwest into the the scenic Al Hajar mountain range of Oman, which are the highest in the whole eastern Arabia. We stopped for the night in the quaintest B&B in the little town of Jebel Akhdar. This place had the most amazing endless views of the mountains. The B&B had a very Omani/American southwest spa style look to it. Not far the from the hotel there are also endless trails and wadis to explore. There are also a couple remote villages where the locals prefer to live off the land. They welcome tourists to visit, but don't want to be photographed. Spending a couple hours in the village of Al Ayan was an amazing experience for me (I truly love seeing things like that). I could have spent our entire 6 days at this location.

Views from the Sahab Hotel, Jebel Akhdar, Oman

Next day we started our trek down the mountains to the Ash Sharqiyah desert region for a modernized Bedouin style camping experience at the Arabian Oryx Camp. After a 4 hour drive we were literally in the middle of the desert in between huge sand dunes. We checked into our air conditioned tent with a full bathroom (no roughing it on this trip). There was a big group of people starting to get ready for the trip to see the sunset. We hopped into one of the camps Jeep and headed towards the top of the dunes to admire the sun descend into the desert sands. This was a spectacular sight. The sun rays; yellow, orange, red and with shades of purple lingered beautifully in the desert sky, until complete darkness took over. We now could only hear the desert wind and feel the granules of the sand blowing against our skin, as we sat around the camp fire eating our traditional Omani dinner under a full moon.

The following day we made a pit stop in the beach town of Sur and took the coastal route to our final destination; The Shangri-La's Al-Waha Resort and Spa, 15 minutes outside of Muscat. This resort is tucked away with the breathtaking views of the sea and the rugged mountains that surround the resort. Our last night in Oman was spent sipping drinks and taking long walks along the beach. Before checking out the next morning we made sure to make time for one last dip in the ocean and soak in the sun.

Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat, Oman

Oman was truly amazing. It still feels very untouched by globalization, and not touristy. I believe it's one of the best kept secrets of the middle east. The country is calm, not too touristy, and the Omani's are always smiling and very helpful people. Our time there was wonderful and memorable.

4 Months Into Saudi

Life here in Saudi...where do I start? I would say so far we have been adapting pretty well. We've made friends fairly quickly within the embassy and expat community. As for having Saudi friends it's been a little challenging, but I have made one girlfriend. Despite all the uprisings around us, Saudi still is a fairly safe country. Hopefully it stays this way here. I do find life at times to be a bit constricting and confined. In my opinion we tend to live in a bubble within the diplomatic quarters. We'll never really know how it feels to live among Saudi's. Especially since we're only here for 2 years. 

The culture shock sneaks up on you very gradually here. It's not like moving to Guinea, Africa where it smacks you right in the face. Riyadh is fairly clean, it has many malls, shops, restaurants and activities. Most expats or government workers from abroad all live in very westernized compounds. In my opinion it's the confinements of living in compounds (which some people never leave during a tour), the segregation between men and women, women not being able to drive, and a few other nuances here and there that makes this a "hardship post". 

Segregation starts with many functions being for only men or women. When you go to a restaurant there's the family section, where women and married couples can dine. Then there's a partitioned off section just for single males. Coffee houses, such as Starbucks, fast food joints are the exact same way; separate entrances for women and men. Some stores at the mall do not allow single men to enter, and during weekends single males may be banned all together from entering the shopping mall. Even at weddings the men and women have separate parties. 

Driving is something I dearly miss. The freedom of going somewhere, when I want to go, and explore on my own term is complicated here. One, I depend on a male driver, which sounds nice, but it involves having to plan things in advance and coordinate around prayer times (5x a day), as well as pick up times for the kids at school.  Two, even with Billy, I can not drive. I still depend on him to drive me around (which he doesn't mind). Third, there is no public transportation system. The only public transport they have are buses for the service workers who come by the hundreds here to work from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, etc...The "Muttawa", the religious police also make sure to enforce their rules. A couple times, I've been stopped for not wearing my headscarf. It feels a little weird having grown men not making eye contact with you and saying in a stern voice, “woman cover your hair”.

Even with all I've stated, I don't regret for a second in coming here, and I feel fortunate to be living abroad. I am discovering this place to be mysterious, intriguing, yet contradicting at times. The experiences I am gaining are priceless. Although it's not always easy, I find what works best for me is to not play into the comparison game. I also remind myself that I am in a different country and I am a guest here in the Kingdom. I use common sense and try to respect their beliefs. Despite the cultural and religious differences I still find people to be the same wherever I go. In general, most of us want: respect, health, food, shelter, love and happiness. Maybe I sound like a big hippie right now, but I believe what I say to be true. 

A Very Short Season

Turns out our softball season ended before it even really started. During practice Billy caught a line drive with his left hand which fractured his 5th metacarpal. Who would of thought softball was such a rough sport? He ended up having minor surgery and staying a couple days in the hospital. Thankfully there was no need to transport him to London for the surgeon here came highly recommended.

A week after this happened I started to have GI issues and have been asked to take it easy for a month until my inflammation goes down. It's looking like I will need to have surgery in Riyadh in the very near future too, but I'll cross that bridge in a month. We've now been officially indoctrinated into the Saudi Health Care System and we feel confident in saying it's comparable to the States in many ways. Guess there will be no need to order those tight spandex, cleats and a glove after all.

When in Riyadh, Play Softball!

I don't know how this happened, but it did. When we arrived in Riyadh we heard about a softball league which was starting up soon. Of course I had no interest in signing up. Softball has never been my thing. Last time I played the sport was in PE class in high school. Little did we know that the coach for the team would be my husbands boss, so of course Billy signs us up. Before our first practice, I tell Billy, "I will just go and see if it's something I even want to commit to". After all, there are practices and games, and I know the team will depend on its players.

Our first practice turned out to be a lot more fun that I thought it would be. Good thing I'm well coordinated and I didn't make a complete fool out of myself. I was able to catch most of the balls, and hit the softball more than a couple times. Maybe I'll be nominated for "most improved" player of the season. After all, everyone else including my husband are far better than I.

Needless to say, I caught the softball bug. Yes people, we are now officially on a coed softball team in Riyadh. We'll be competing against the different military branches that are stationed here. We've had two practices so far and our first game is coming up some time this week. Now I have to look the part; I see tight pants, cleats and gloves in my near future. Our "Patriots" jersey will be arriving soon. I've even asked the only other girl on the team who played softball in COLLEGE to give me some pointers. We'll see what this season brings. It's all in good fun, right? At least I hope so.

A Day at the Edge of the World

96 km northwest of Riyadh lies the magnificent sight of the Edge of the World. Here the cliffs of the Tuwaiq escarpment drop away giving splendid views over the plain below. We left bright and early from Riyadh with a small convoy of 2, 4x4  Toyota's, and a couple of drivers who knew how to get our group of 7 safe and sound to this spectacular place. Even with a GPS it would have been pretty hard for us to go solo the first time. Finding this place is a little challenging because it's off the beaten path. 

We drove for a good hour until we veered off the road onto gravel and sand. There were no signs or markers telling us where to go, only tire marks on the sand. We passed several camels out in the dessert. The only time I had seen a camel was at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. Now here they were just out in the wild traveling in packs. 

We also saw goats being herded by the man below, who waved at us after I took his picture.

Long haired goats enjoying the shade.

Goat Herder

After a half hour trek in the desert we reached the Edge of the World which is part of the Tuwaiq escarpments that runs 800km from the south to the north central region of Saudi Arabia. There are many narrow valleys and wadis. The panoramic views are endless and the cliffs are breath taking. But watch out for your step, because one careless move could be deadly.

View of the valley from the top of one of the cliffs.

Edge of the World back drop

We spent a couple of hours exploring the area, hiking from one mountain peak to another. Once the sun started to warm up we got back into the SUV's and found a nice shaded area to have a picnic. Each one of us brought something to share so we had a wonderful array of yummy foods to chose from. Next trip out will probably be an overnight one, but we'll have to wait until the weather cools down some.

Breaking the Rules in the Stall

Up until yesterday it was Ramadan and one of the rules during this time is: no eating in public until Iftar, which is after 6:30 pm. Mid morning a girlfriend and I decided to go pick up our new Abayas, go to the shopping mall then head to the grocery store. I left the house having only eaten a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee, which is the not the greatest sustenance. At least not when you're in Saudi during Ramadan. Most restaurants, food courts, cafes are closed during the day because it's illegal to eat in public during the month of Ramadan. You can't even have a glass of water in public.

Of course, I walk out of the house not prepared for the day ahead. By the time we get to the shopping mall, my friend and I are literally thirsty and starving. Plus, we still have to go grocery shopping, and you know how that is when you're hungry. As we're walking in the mall we miraculously see a bakery ahead and it says "OPEN". The smells from this place draws us like honeybees to the honeycomb. Before Iftar, we can't just sit at the cafe, order a nice hot pastry with a cup of coffee and eat. No way! You must take it to go and savor it later in the evening.

Our game plan starts to unfold. We order 4 croissants with cheese and a couple drinks to go. We head into the ladies bathroom and walk into one of stalls together. Thank goodness the bathroom was empty when we walked in. The doors to the stalls were of  regular size, so no one could sneak a peak. We locked the stall door, opened up the to-go box from the bakery and had a nice little lunch next to the toilet. We were both laughing on how crazy we looked. I only wish I had pictures to post.

Week 3.5

Fort along the wadi trail.

I've been receiving emails from friends and family inquiring how we're adjusting to life in Riyadh. It's been 3.5 weeks since we've arrived and so far so good. In my opinion this place is a hidden gem. Many people shy away from Saudi Arabia because they don't know much about the culture, religion, customs, etc..., but for me that is what drew me to this place. The mystique  and misconception of this place intrigued me. I've always been one to want see things with my own eyes and form my own opinion about a person, place or a thing.

The culture shock I've experienced has been minimal, if any. Then again I'm easy going and have an open mind. Of course there are things I see and hear that I don't always agree with, but I respect ones right to live the way they choose. Who am I to impose my thoughts and morals? What makes me happy may not make you happy, correct?

Despite the differences, for example: Women wearing an Abaya in public and not being allowed to drive; prayer 5 times a day; commerce closing for 30 mins during prayer time, and Ramadan slowing things down (which I find refreshing). I find Saudi very westernized. Most Saudi men and women are well educated and have studied or lived abroad. They are not sheltered from the outside world. There is nothing you can't find here. The grocery stores are wonderful and always stocked. The souks (flee markets) are filled with beautiful decorations, one more intricate than the other. The shopping malls have everything from H&M to Louise Vitton, and the shoes styles are endless. Since women have to wear Abayas here, they love their shoes and purses.

Mostly I have positive things to say; that's my personality. I tend to always look on the bright side. Of course there are negatives. I don't like to see all the stray cats in the DQ. I want to feed them all and take the little tiny kittens home with me, but that would be an endless battle. I also feel bad for the migrant workers who are usually from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India who are treated like second class citizens, yet are the foundation of the economic boom of this country. Recycling really doesn't exist here. Women's rights still lack some basic freedoms, such as the right to drive, or vote. But there are issues like these in many places, some even in the good ol' USA.

Now for the true confession of what I've been enjoying the most thus far...not having my husband traveling all the time and working only a block away from our house. We can have lunch together at the house or at his office. Dante is in a spacious house and loves going on long walks on the wadi. We've been meeting and socializing with some great people, and have even managed to make friends from Brazil. What is there to complain about? I would say, nothing.

High Tea in Riyadh

Taking in the view and showing off my first Abaya

I would have never imagined eating scones, finger sandwiches, and sipping tea at the Four Seasons Hotel, especially not the one in Riyadh. The women of the embassy were invited to an exquisite High Tea experience at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Kingdom Tower. This 41 story beautiful skyscraper is owned by Saudi Prince, Al-Waleed bin Talal. This building also houses a 5 story high end shopping center, a skybridge atop the skyscraper which is open to the public and provides a 360 view of the entire city of Riyadh. Needless to say it's definitely posh.

A glimpse of the desserts

High Tea was served in one of the master suites on the 38th floor. We were greeted by the hotel manager and 6 staff members. The suite was knock out dead gorgeous. On every table there were assortments of finger sandwiches, desserts, scones as well as a menu of different teas the staff could prepare for us. The chef was in the kitchen making everything from scratch. I tried fresh green tea with loose peppermint leaves and a Hibiscus Rose which was out of this world delicious. The finger foods were amazing, and the minute a table would start to look bare the butlers would replenish it with more food.


This was also a wonderful opportunity for the women to socialize and get to know one another a little more. Some have been here for a while and are about to depart, and others have just arrived. It's interesting to hear about people's background and how they came to Riyadh and where they are headed to next. In 1994 when Billy and I married I would have never imagined we'd be living in Riyadh and now here we are, having the opportunity of a lifetime, at least I think so. Cheers to that!

Itching to do Something ALREADY!

It’s only a little over week since we arrived and I am already wondering what the next course of action will be.  Once I get the Iqama, internet, cell phone, stock the house with groceries; shop some, go to parties; then what? We don’t have children and once our household items arrive and I get everything organized boredom will sink in.  

I’m already trying to be somewhat proactive and putting some feelers out there. There are many positions available for eligible family members (EFM) at the embassy. I’ve already been approached by a couple departments that have positions coming available. This is tempting because it’s something new.  

There is also a great need for skilled massage therapists, of course the expat community would be happy to be clients. Outside the DQ there may be opportunities to work at one of the lavish hotels such as the Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons in their spa department or even for the Royal family.

Which path do I take??? It will be interesting to see which direction life takes me in Saudi. I’m excited!   

Cats Galore!

I have never seen so many stray cats in my life. They are everywhere in the DQ, especially huddled around or in trash cans. Dante goes crazy when he sees them and literally starts to drag me just to get close. These little guys don’t mess around and will stand their ground. I see tons of little kittens wandering around too, and the other day I found one of the little guys dead on the sidewalk. I don’t know what happened to him or her, but it was sad to see. Supposedly there’s an organization that comes into the DQ to spay and neuter the cats. The way they keep track of the cats they've spayed or neutered is by clipping the tip of their ear. Ouch! Poor little babies. 

Iqama, Iqama, Iqama…

We finally got our pictures taken for the Iqama. I feel like the Iqama is the Holy Grail and we must kiss it several times when it’s finally in our hands. Without this Iqama we can’t seem to accomplish anything. In our case it’s been a pain because we can’t set up DSL at home or get a personal cell phone until we get it. Plus, all of our car and household items that were shipped over will not be cleared through customs until we get our Iqama.

So Much to Say…

Our plane from Frankfurt to Riyadh

We made it to Saudi! The flight was smooth and thankfully there were no issues with Mr. Dante “Dewey”.  An hour before landing at King Khalid International Airport I woke up and opened up my window shades on the airplane and all I could see was the vastness of the Arabian Desert. It is pretty amazing to see the sand dunes and small little towns in the middle of the dessert. I couldn't stare for long because the brightness of the sun was intense.

It’s been a little over a week since we’ve arrived and so far I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The terrain here is definitely different; a lot of sand and rocks. It’s very hot right now over 100 degrees every day. It’s sort of like being in a convection oven or in a dry sauna. At least it’s a dry heat and quite frankly it doesn’t bother me. There are days that are hazy because of the fine granules of sand in the air. On those days I breathe in the sand and taste it. The brightness of the sun here is extreme and I am making use of my sunglasses on a daily basis. Once October comes around the temperature will drop to 75-80 degrees during the day and at night we’ll have to wear a light winter jackets because it gets a bit breezy.   

The city of Riyadh is quite nice, especially downtown. Since it’s the capital of Saudi Arabia the city is kept very clean. Entertainment for the Saudis are shopping and eating, so there are tons of shops and restaurants. I have been surprised to see many American chains, such as Applebee’s, Cheesecake Factory, Dunkin Donuts, Crispy Creams, Starbucks, KFC, McDonald’s, and a few more I have forgotten. We still haven’t made it to the shopping malls, but we hear they are very nice. There’s an Ikea here and I’ve just been told that we also have a Pottery Barn. We have gone grocery shopping and the supermarkets we’ve been to are outstanding. My favorite so far is an Indian franchise called LuLu's. There you will find items from all around the world.

We’ve arrived during Ramadan so there’s not much going on during the day. Running errands, setting up internet service and getting a local cell phone have been a challenge. The grocery stores open for brief periods in the morning, but everything else is closed until 9:30 pm. During the day the Muslim population are fasting and catching up on sleep. Once the sun goes down, they break their fast and indulge by eating out with their families and going shopping. The shopping malls, souks, stores and restaurant stay open until 2 am. Supposedly their shopping malls have excellent sales during this time. Much like in the States after Christmas except here it’s all month long.

We’ve also applied for the Iqama, which is an ID card issued to all living in Saudi Arabia. It normally takes 3-4 weeks to obtain it, but because it’s Ramadan it may take longer to get it. For now we carry a temporary card in case we get stopped by authorities or the religious police (Mutawa). In Saudi, women can only be in public with the opposite sex, if he is her husband, son, or close relative. The Iqama lets authorities know that Billy and I are married by the information on it. The same rules apply for Billy.

In public it’s mandatory for women to where an Abaya, which is a black cloak that goes over the clothes. I have borrowed mine from the Embassy for now and intend to buy one soon. In the Diplomatic Quarters (DQ) where we live I am not required to wear it, but I must still dress discretely because at times the Mutawa do patrol the DQ. The headscarf (Burka) is optional for Western women, but if the Mutawa see you without it on they will ask you to cover your hair. They follow Shari'ah Law (moral code and religious law of Islam) and have the right to enforce it. They do hold power in office and have deep roots in Saudi government. The good news is that the Mutawa are not everywhere and have no arresting power unless they are with a police officer. I haven’t seen one yet. In my opinion the best thing is to just follow the rules. Like the saying goes, when in Rome do what the Romans do.  

One of several parks in the DQ

The Diplomatic Quarters (DQ) where we live is huge. It’s bigger than Beaufort, SC where we used to live before the Foreign Service. There are many parks, a shopping area, an equestrian center for horseback riding, schools, sports facilities, enormous conference/party centers, shops, restaurants and a 10 mile walking/biking trail with views of the city.

All the embassies are in the DQ. There’s even a Brazilian Embassy here. Hope we can get on the guest list for carnival. We’re a short walk to the embassy which is nice. Across the street from our house is a beautiful gated park with lots of grass, palm trees, and water fountains. It’s definitely an oasis and quite peaceful. We usually go and walk Dante there.  We are also blocks away from the walking trail which we love.

 A few houses down is a simple mosque which looks like an adobe. There are mosques everywhere here. It’s sort of like living in the south, a Baptist church on every corner. Several times during the day, around the same time we hear the call to prayer from different mosques nearby. We find it to be quite beautiful and relaxing to hear. It’s such a pleasant thing for us that we like to open our doors just to listen to them sing. I’m sure this will wear off in time.

The Mission has accommodated us quite well, and everyone we’ve met have been extremely welcoming. This post was unaccompanied from 2003 – 2010, so I get a sense people are very happy to see families and children back.  The Mission is learning to make it a very family friendly post once again.  There are many activities to keep children, families and singles busy.  Outside of the DQ there is a big expat community too, people who have lived here for many years. I hear they are a wealth of knowledge. I can honestly say my first week here has been enjoyable. 

Less than 6 days before KSA

Hanging out at my favorite place: National Cathedral

It's crazy that 2 years have flown by. It seems just like yesterday when we moved to the area and my husband was traveling like crazy. At times it was hard without him, but I pushed on and adapted. After all it was only temporary. Now it's onto the next chapter. 

Sometimes being in the Foreign Service is like being in a movie. You know the plot and slowly the scenes start unfolding in front of you. So, here we are, less than 6 days until our departure. If all goes according to plans we'll soon be boarding an airplane with our dog, Dante and heading to the other side of the world to experience a new way of life for a couple years. Within a year in country we'll be bidding on our next post, and the beat goes on and on.

But let me get back on track and focus on the now. We've packed out and we're in temporary quarters and it's time to enjoy DC. We've been eating whatever we want, visiting with friends, biking/running on our favorite paths and trails. Yesterday we rented some bikes and road in the pouring rain. I felt like a kid; the smile on my face was ear to ear. For the time being it's been wonderful to enjoy these last few months in DC with my husband/ best friend.

Pack Out: July, Friday the 13th

shipping container

We are officially packed out and proud to say we have absolutely nothing in storage. Everything we own which is not much (75 items and a vehicle) is in this container.

Our motto since we've joined the Foreign Service is: less is more. One day when we're not moving every 2-3 yrs we'll have our dream home and fill it with memories and current trends.

Saudi Arabia: The Etiquette of Arabic Coffee

(I cut/paste the article below. Thought it was interesting. Hope you enjoy it too.) 

Regardless of whether you are an expatriate or a Saudi, if you are in the Kingdom you will experience the unique taste of Arabic coffee. Most Saudis grow up learning the etiquette which goes with the serving of Arabic coffee (kawa) but some expatriates may not know.

Serving Arabic kawa is both a production and a talent. To begin with kawa is first served to guests with priority given to the father and then followed by first-degree relatives and elders. In many large Saudi gatherings, formal or informal, guests may sit in rows of chairs or couches. Kawa should be served to the guests sitting in the front rows and/or to high ranking officials, leaders or elders. For example, sometimes Saudi Arabian television will feature news of King Abdullah greeting foreign delegations. If sitting, the King and others will be served kawa and a viewer can see firsthand the protocol associated with serving kawa.

As a matter of tradition kawa is served from the right side to the end and not served from the left side. Within a home the father should not serve coffee if his son is available to serve guests. Additionally, elder brothers should not serve coffee if younger brothers are present. An elder should not serve coffee if younger individuals are present in the gathering. The younger is always expected to serve the elder.

Source: http://americanbedu.com/2011/02/15/saudi-arabia-the-etiquette-of-arabic-coffee/

Who's Taming Who???

After a couple hours at the Folklife Festival we got on our bikes and stopped at Starbucks for an iced coffee before the trek home. We then got on Pennsylvania Avenue then Constitution, cut through the Lincoln Memorial and started heading over the Memorial Bridge.

I don’t know what happened because it all occurred so fast, but Billy’s bike got a little too close to mine and instead of me veering the bike to the opposite direction I went towards him. He sped up and I completely lost control of my bike. I saw the concrete and I knew it was going to be painful. Not only did it hurt, but I fell in the edge of the road of the Memorial Bridge towards oncoming traffic. All of a sudden my adrenaline kicked in and I scooped myself off the street and lifted my bike onto the sidewalk. Motorists slowed down and honked to make sure I was OK. I waved back utterly embarrassed but assuring them I was fine.

Billy was freaking out and all I could do was get on the bike and start pedaling before I gave myself time to reflect and completely break down and start to cry. Not only was I in pain, but pissed that I downed my brand new bike. Six hours later my entire body is aching and my Rotator cuff is tweaked. We’ll see how I feel in the morning, but for now I definitely need some Aleeve.

This photo does not do my pain enough justice.

Folklife Festival 2012

It was 100 degrees today, but that didn’t stop us from cycling from Arlington to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival at the National Mall.  This Festival is held outside every summer for two weeks, and it is an international exposition which honors traditions; old and new. Of course our time there was fabulous. We listened to Creole music, a Mariachi band, then walked around for a good bit and checked out many exhibits. Even though temperatures were high it was worth it. 

Aids Memorial Quilt

Mural at Folklife Festival

Mariachi Band

My New Splurge

My new bike.

Oh Ya! My new purchase, a brand new bike to take to Riyadh. I'm so excited! My old bike was fantastic; light, fast and great for cycling on pavement.
 
Get this...where we'll be living there is a 19-mile biking trail which is half concrete/gravel. I also discovered that there's a cycling club called the "Riyadh Wheelers" composed of mainly expats which has been in existence since 1992, which I may consider joining.

So, I upgraded my road bike to a Cyclo-cross bike. This thing is sooooo sweet. It still gives me the speed that I want, and because of the wider clearance and tires, I can ride over gravel, mud and other types of debris. I know my new toy will not disappoint, plus I'll have plenty of time to fine tune a hobby I thoroughly enjoy. 

My old bike.

*Thanks honey for helping me research and motivating me to make this purchase. You're always loving, thoughtful and giving. Te Amo!

FACT

Shooting an M4

Before pulling the trigger on this M4 my entire body was shaking and my adrenaline level was at RED.  Never thought in a million years I would be shooting an AK47, M4, Glock, Beretta and Sig Sauer. This was all part of the "Foreign Affairs Counter Threat" course which I signed up for. The week long course not only taught me to shoot guns, but also included defensive driving techniques, as well as medical training and surveillance dedication. After completing the course I felt a bit like la femme Nikita. Watch out people.

More temporary goodbyes...

The other day I started getting a little teary eyed at work. I was wondering when would be my next reunion with my family once we're in SA? It's been over a week since my visit to San Diego, and I'm already missing my sister, and her kids and my lovely mom. I was able to spend 10 wonderful days with them including Mother's Day. We had a fantastic time. This trip wasn't about filling our agenda with sightseeing or visiting tons of people. Nope, this time was about spending time with my family and close friends, who I love dearly. Too bad my other sister wasn't able to join us this time around, but not to worry that time will soon come. 

(my mom, sis and I having lunch at the Deli Lama)

(my mom with my precious niece and nephew)

                 

                                                                     

Middle Eastern Studies at FSI

I’m trying to live in the moment, but lately I must admit I am counting the days until our departure date to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. More so now, after taking an intense regional area studies on the Far East at the Foreign Service Institute, I am pumped! Prior to classes starting I thought I would be taking a “fluff” course on the customs, and do's and don'ts of the region. Boy was I wrong. Instead I signed up for a two-week intensive course lead by John Iskander, a PHD in Religious and Middle Eastern studies. 

Each day we had speakers who spent much time in the Middle East, some Arabic themselves. They had extensive knowledge and expertise on their topic. They spoke in depth about: culture, history, economics, policy, media, oil, US relations, the Arab Spring, Israel and Palestine, etc… We covered Morocco, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Oman, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.

The discussions were intense and at times above my realm of knowledge. After all, what do I really know about policy making and government relations/diplomacy overseas? Not much. In my defense I was the only non-government employee out of the bunch so I wasn’t too hard on myself.  I was surprised that some of my classmates were curious about my perspective on certain topics. I assume they wanted my outlook as a civilian, sort of speaking. It was fabulous to sit and hear lectures from brilliant educated people and to absorb some of their expertise. The Q/A sessions were also thought provoking and insightful.

Some of the things I took away from the course were:
1) Westerners have many pre-conceived notions of the Middle East (especially after 9/11).
2) People need to stop stereotyping Muslims and stop assuming that women who cover their heads and wear an Abaya are being suppressed.
3) Islam doesn't mean radicalism and Muslims are not terrorists.
4) The issues in the Middle East are primarily political rather than religious.
5) Politics plays a HUGE role in everything we do. We little people may not think so, but it does.  

Our last speaker during the two-week class was former Yemen Ambassador Barbara Bodine. Her lecture resonated with me the most. She stressed the importance of getting out of our comfort zones when we live overseas; exploring the country we are assigned to, meeting the locals, and learning the language some. For me having an opportunity to live abroad is a dream come true. I have been wanting to do this for a very long time. I will take her words to heart. I know there will be an adjustment period for me once I arrive in Riyadh, but I will make a conscious effort to leave my comfort zone and embrace an experience of a lifetime.  

Volunteering Does the Heart Good

Not too long after moving to Arlington I found a wonderful dog park for Dante. A block away from the park was a place called AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center). I noticed people standing outside on a daily basis. At the time I wasn’t quite sure why people were standing in line, but I figured it was a food bank or something of the sort. 

Over a year and a half ago on a bright sunny day I walked into AFAC and inquired about what they did. After speaking with the volunteer coordinator I discovered that it was a non-profit organization that provided supplemental groceries to people in need. I had only been in the DC area for a few months. I was feeling lonely because Billy was travelling all the time. My circle of friends had not been developed yet, plus I wasn't working. Needless to say, I had a lot of idle time on my hands. I quickly asked if they needed a volunteer. Of course, they answered.  After signing a few forms I began to volunteer every Wednesday from 9-1pm in the distribution center. This was one of the best things I did while living in Arlington. 

I helped serve people from all walks of life. This opened my eyes to the food insecurity issues America faces. In Arlington alone, 14,900 people don't have enough to eat. Some of our clients were people who were unemployed because of physical, mental or emotional disabilities. Others were families who had applied for food stamps and had not started receiving them yet. Others were elderly people who had to choose between buying their medication or food. Thank goodness for organizations such as AFAC who is aware of this situation and works with local grocers, charities, farmers and restaurants in order to help people in need.  It's absurd when you realize how much food is tossed away by grocery stores and restaurants on a daily basis when it could be donated.

The staff members and other volunteers were a delight to work with. Our Wednesday crew was especially close. During those few hours we would chat quite a bit and find new things out about each other. One of the volunteers would treat our group to coffee every time he was there. On occasion we'd all meet for lunch and get to know one another even more. Each one of us had a reason and purpose to be there. 

My last day at AFAC was over 3 weeks ago. I am grateful to have been part of a such a great organization. Volunteering during those few hours, once a week, no matter the race, religion or sex, we worked together; staff and client. I was able to serve and fill my heart with joy. That's the beauty of volunteering. 

Dante's TPLO and Flight Update

After much consideration I've decided not to go ahead with Dante's TPLO surgery for his torn CCL Ligament. The surgery was scheduled for this Friday (4/20/12) at Virginia Tech. But my gut kept tugging at my conscious telling me not to go forth with this surgery. It's been almost 2 months since Dante's visit to his Orthopedic doctor. Since this visit his leg has improved by 70% with careful restriction to his daily activity. During this time I was able to do in-depth research on the TPLO surgery and I don't believe Dante is a good candidate for surgery at the moment.

Although this surgery has a high success rate it's still very invasive (see picture), the recovery time is lengthy and a K9 needs to be at optimal health. With Dante's consistent skin allergies and infections his risk for an uncomplicated recovery is 50/50.

I spoke with his veterinarian and explained my concerns about the surgery and  why I decided against it for now. She shockingly agreed with my decision. She said, if he's not in pain (which he's not), and if he's able to walk on all fours (which he is) then we shouldn't take the risk of surgery, especially because we're moving overseas and don't quite know what veterinary care is like in Riyadh. Even though I already had made the decision against the surgery it was reassuring that Dante's vet completely agreed with me. If and when his leg gets worse we'll cross that bridge, but in the mean time I feel confident with my decision and my mind is at ease.

Now onto good news in regards to getting Dante to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Thankfully we will all be on the same flight from Dulles to Riyadh, and we'll be on the pet friendliest aircraft, Lufthansa. Lufthansa is the the way to go when flying with a pet(s). They are experienced with transporting pets safely, especially during the hottest months of the year. They also DO NOT fly pets as cargo instead as as excess baggage which makes a HUGE difference. Flying a pet as cargo can make it a lengthy process when clearing customs. Although rare, there has also been horror stories of pets dying when flying as cargo, especially during summer months. This is because pets who fly as cargo are stowed away with all the other cargo while waiting to clear customs, and depending on the country it can take hours to clear customs. Plus these holding areas don't have A/C or someone to tend to the pet therefore leading to an unfortunate disaster for the pet and an emotional roller coaster for the owner. So, needless to say I'm extremely happy about our flight reservations. We depart on July 21st. :)

Temporary Goodbyes

A few days ago I returned home from our last trip to South Carolina before departing to Riyadh in June (now mid July). The trip to Beaufort and Clemson was a success!

We were able to hang out with family...

                                    (Billy's mom and nephew)

                                           (Billy and his sister)

spend quality time with our close friends...

spend a couple days on the beach at our friends round house...

(St. Helena Island, SC)

and even make a pit stop at Billy's Alma mater Clemson University.

                                 (Tillman Hall at Clemson University)

As a special treat to ourselves we came home via the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trip took 2 days starting from Asheville, NC and ending in Roanoke, VA. We had planned to drive to mile post 0, but we realized that it would add an extra day to our trip which we didn't allot time for. At least we were able to drive 260 miles of the Parkway, and take in the extraordinary views as well as stop at the little towns along the way.

 (View of the Roanoke Valley)

(one of our favorite sleepy towns, Blowing Rock, NC)

I hope our friends and family will take the opportunity to visit us abroad within these 2 years. Thank you for your unconditional love and the imprint you leave in our lives.

A Range of Emotions

My head is spinning 100 mph. We just got word that we need to be at Post by the end of June. This means we'll be arriving 3 months earlier than planned. Guess I need to get used to these sudden changes if we plan to make the Foreign Service a long term "lifestyle" (it's not just a career). Our "To Do" list is increasing by the minute and on top of it all we need to squeeze in time to make our rounds to visit family and friends before pack out and departure.

On a positive note my husband is no longer traveling 60-70% of the time. I can't believe his current assignment finished suddenly due to the above circumstances. We were predicting it would end in June, but like the saying goes "it depends" rings true. Since he has comp time to burn before training starts for his next assignment, we're taking a trip to South Carolina to visit family and friends. On our way back to DC we've decided take the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville, NC to Front Royal, Va. It's something we've always wanted to do. Stay tuned for pics and more posts.

Our Loving Sidekick

Recently we discovered that our 5 year old dog, Dante "Dewey" will need TPLO surgery. A few weeks ago he went on a long run with my husband. After the run he began limping around the house and not putting any weight on his left hind leg. We took him to an orthopedic veterinarian who ran tests and evaluated that he completely ruptured his cranial cruciate lligament (CCL).

Some dogs can recover without surgery, but that's not the case with Mr. Dewey. You see, he's had chronic environmental allergies all his life and has been on steroids since he was 9 months old. Now his lifetime of drug usage is catching up to him by affecting his knee ligaments; preventing scar tissue from building which will lead to arthritis. With surgery arthritis issues will be delayed. He will also be able to run again and play, and have a better quality of life especially because he's still fairly young.

Currently our little guy is fighting a Staph infection due to skin allergies. He is yet on another type of steroid and antibiotic for at least 4 weeks. This means another visit to the specialist to access his infection and to fully make sure he is in the clear for surgery. We're keeping our fingers crossed that this round of medication will fully clear the infection. Time is of the essence here, especially since we are moving overseas even sooner than expected (another topic to blog about). Which leads me to the next topic: preparation of shipping Mr. Dewey overseas.

Most recent United Airlines (the airline we will mostly use) changed their pet policies. They have announced that pets will need to fly as cargo and not excess baggage. Of course the new rule will take effect before we depart. Usually flying a pet overseas as excess baggage is a few hundred dollars. Flying a pet as cargo changes the dollar amount from hundreds to thousands. There is also another issue. Airlines do not fly pets into countries when temperatures reach 100 degrees. Where we're headed temperatures reach well over 100 degrees between June-August on a daily basis. We are slated to arrive in Riyadh late June or early July. This is not looking good for our 4-legged friend. We're hoping we can reserve a flight and land in country in the wee morning hours when the temperature is around 80+degrees. In the mean time we need to focus in getting all his paperwork and shots organized, as well as certificates certified and translated so he is permitted to arrive in country.

Oy vey...when we rescued our 2-time pound puppy from the shelter we had no idea he would have so many issues. We also never thought we'd be in the foreign service traveling the world with a dog. Though for a brief moment we have entertained the idea of giving him away to a loving home, we have realized we are his loving home and ultimately can't get rid of him. We would feel incredible guilt and regret.  He has captured our hearts with his unconditional love, and even with all his issues we continue to want our Dante Dewey around.

Why I love DC/NOVA!

After living in two small towns in South Carolina (Clemson & Beaufort) for close to 10 years. I was more than ready for the city life. As our first post, the last year and a half in the DC area has been awesome! The history, the people, the food, and the cultural and political events can keep ones social calendar booked year round. Here are a few of my favorite things about DC and Northern Virginia.

Endless options of ethnic foods:

Dama on Columbia Pike

My all time favorite Ethiopian Restaurant. Yum!

Awesome grocery stores.

Eastern Market (Capitol Hill)

Cupcakes & coffee shops on every corner.

My favorite "Baked & Wired "in Georgetown

Magnificent Smithsonian Museums, monuments and history.

The Castle-Smithsonian Institution Building

The night life...

The Kennedy Center

Countless trails to run on...

I could go on, and on, and on about the DC area. It's a place that has kept me feeling young, refreshed, and up to date on current events. And if I choose to stay in for the night and order take out, well then, I have that option too.